Method and kit for extracting and using auxiliary power

Abstract

A method and kit for extracting auxiliary power from a power source installed on or associated with an implement, and supplying the auxiliary power to an auxiliary tool associated with the implement. The invention is preferably employed in the context of an auxiliary tool, e.g., in the form of a rotary trimmer, edger or the like, associated with another power implement, such as a lawnmower, wherein the power is preferably extracted from a driven member of the implement. Advantageously, the device is easy to attach/detach, is universally locatable and/or orientable on the implement, and is easily retrofittable to practically any existing implement, such as a lawnmower deck.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement that includes a mower deck having at least one moving part that acts as a power source for supplying auxiliary power to the auxiliary tool from the power source that is installed and associated with the implement, wherein the moving part comprises a bolt head or nut on a drive- or driven-pulley on the mower deck, comprising:
 installing on the implement a coupling device that comprises a socket that couples with the bolt or nut to interact with the moving part installed on the implement, wherein, when the coupling device is positioned to interact with the moving part that acts as the power source, the coupling device extracts auxiliary power from the power source; 
 associating an auxiliary tool with the implement in a manner such that the auxiliary tool is operable by the auxiliary power that is extracted by the coupling device from the power source installed on the implement; and 
 arranging an auxiliary power transmission arrangement for transmitting auxiliary power from the coupling device to the auxiliary tool, 
 wherein at least one of the steps of installing the coupling device and associating the auxiliary tool comprises magnetically installing the coupling device and/or magnetically associating the auxiliary tool with the implement. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling device is magnetically installed. 
     
     
       3. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the coupling device is capable of variable configurations. 
     
     
       4. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary tool is magnetically associated with the implement. 
     
     
       5. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary tool comprises a trimmer. 
     
     
       6. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the coupling device is magnetically installed and the auxiliary tool is magnetically associated with the implement. 
     
     
       7. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power transmission arrangement comprises a shock-absorbing and/or break-away device. 
     
     
       8. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the shock-absorbing and/or break-away device includes a clutch member. 
     
     
       9. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary tool comprises a shock-absorbing device. 
     
     
       10. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the shock-absorbing device comprises a tool support including a flexible member. 
     
     
       11. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the step of magnetically associating the auxiliary tool with the implement is capable of plural arbitrarily-selectable mounting configurations upon the implement. 
     
     
       12. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the implement comprises a mowing device having a mower deck that comprises at least one driven pulley, with which the coupling device interacts, and the mowing device comprises a ZTR mowing device. 
     
     
       13. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the magnetically installed coupling device comprises at least one movable support member for supporting the coupling device on the implement. 
     
     
       14. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the auxiliary tool further comprises a device for selectively adjusting the lateral position of the auxiliary tool with respect to the implement. 
     
     
       15. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the device for selectively adjusting the lateral position of the auxiliary tool with respect to the implement comprises a remotely controlled rack-and-pinion device. 
     
     
       16. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the clutch member comprises a ball cable clutch. 
     
     
       17. A method for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drive- or driven-pulley on the mower deck is covered by an original cover member, and wherein the step of installing the coupling device on the implement further comprises one of the following steps: (a) installing the coupling device over an opening pre-provided in the original cover member; (b) first providing an opening in the original cover member; or (c) providing a replacement cover member for the original cover member, having an appropriate opening therein for installing the coupling device. 
     
     
       18. A kit for retrofitting an auxiliary tool on an implement by the method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the implement includes a mower deck having at least one moving part that acts as a power source for supplying auxiliary power to the auxiliary tool from the power source that is installed and associated with the implement, wherein the moving part comprises a bolt head or nut on a drive- or driven-pulley on the mower deck, comprising:
 a coupling device that comprises a socket that is configured to couple with the bolt head or nut on the drive- and/or driven-pulley to interact with the moving part installed on the implement, wherein, when the coupling device is positioned to interact with the moving part that acts as a power source, the coupling device extracts auxiliary power from the power source; 
 an auxiliary tool configured to be associated with the implement in a manner such that the auxiliary tool is operable by the auxiliary power that is extracted by the coupling device from the power source installed on the implement; and 
 an auxiliary power transmission arrangement for transmitting auxiliary power from the coupling device to the auxiliary tool, 
 wherein at least one of the coupling device and the auxiliary tool comprises a magnetically actuated attachment member for associating the at least one of the coupling device and the auxiliary tool with the implement. 
 
     
     
       19. A kit as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the drive- or driven-pulley on the mower deck is covered by an original cover member, and further comprising a replacement cover member for the original cover member, having an appropriate opening therein for installing the coupling device. 
     
     
       20. A kit as defined in  claim 18 , wherein both the coupling device and the auxiliary tool comprise the magnetically actuated attachment member.